Ashton set for England honours

Tuesday 2 January 2007 00:10 BST

Dean Ashton can expect a good news telephone call from England coach Steve McClaren this week.

McClaren called Ashton into his very first squad, prior to the friendly win over Greece in August last year, but the 23-year-old's dreams of an international breakthrough were shattered when he broke his ankle in training.

But now, after Ashton has scored three goals in his last four games for West Ham, McClaren said: "He has forced his way in. It was very disappointing about the injury at the start of last season with England. I have been watching him from pre-season onwards and he certainly comes into consideration."

Ashton's return to form and fitness is particularly timely given the doubts surrounding Michael Owen.

The same is presumably true of John Terry, although given the Chelsea skipper will fly to Valencia for his side's Champions League clash, prepared to wear a mask to protect his fractured cheekbone, it appears any fears over his health are about to be allayed.

Still, just as the build-up to last month's key victories over Israel and Russia at Wembley was overshadowed by daily bulletins on the fitness of Steven Gerrard, so McClaren is now being pestered for information on Owen and Terry.

And, having remained resolute in his determination to get Gerrard onto the field last month, McClaren, speaking at the launch of the FA-backed Tesco Skills Roadshow in West Brom, appears equally keen to utilise Terry and Owen next week.

However, just as with Gerrard, he is willing to offer both Avram Grant and Sam Allardyce assurances no undue risk will be taken.

"Sometimes you do have to be ruthless," he said. "There are one or two players who played against Russia who had little knocks and injuries that maybe we wouldn't have risked normally. But because it was such a big game they risked it and we risked it.

"There are two weeks to the next game and there is still a lot of time. Nothing will be done without they say-so of the clubs or without liaison with their medical teams but I name my squad on Friday and I would like those two players in it."